Donald Westlake, author of the book reviewed here, The Hook, passed away December 31, 2008. His published books and screenplays totaled well over 100 in a career spanned 45 plus years. The world lost one of the greatest American authors ever to live, even if not many knew of him...

I am way behind on my reading. I am not talking in terms of books here; we’re talking years. I just finished two books in the last week that were originally published ten years ago, which is better than I was last summer when I read one that was twenty-five years old.

The real shame? The book I finished in the last hour was by my favorite author, Donald Westlake, and was published in 2000. And like all other Westlake books I have read, bar none, I feel like loading up a suitcase full of books titled The Hook, and beginning a whistle stop tour touting the sheer genius of the man.

The Hook is classic Westlake because the story is tight, wrought with many truths, and believable (even if seemingly over the top).

The Hook is basically about collaboration between two writers; one who has struggled for years and the other who knows nothing but success, and the effects of the union forged by the two old acquaintances. Of course, since it is Westlake at the pen, the story has some deviously delicious twists and turns.

The 175 pages of the book seem slim, almost laughable as far as book reading goes, but believe me, the depths are incredible. Westlake could do with one word that many authors can’t do with ten.  There is no fluff, no filler to hammer home details over and over again. Yet, the tale, as Westlake’s entire writings do, felt three dimensional.

I could smell the streets and countryside. I could feel the ‘Brillo Pad’ hair of one character. Why? Not because I was told to smell or feel it, because I was allowed to. The hair felt natural to the character because of other traits; traits not all revealed in one paragraph, or on one page.

Westlake leaves no stone unturned as he explores probable psychological impacts on these writers, as well as the peripheral relationships with other characters in the book, because of this collaboration.

Most importantly, I was not just emotionally attached to the characters, but I felt invested in them.

But there is more; so much more.

We are shown how the publishing industry works in these modern digital times and what happens to authors whose names a remembered by computers. There are also relationships with editors, readers, and publishing companies that are explored.

And tucked away nice and neat, in the fantastic tale, are lessons on writing:

Characters aren’t born in stories; they come with their own body bags

When we first encounter characters, it is like we have run to catch up with them. We begin walking in their shoes and discover who they are as the tale unfolds. Generally, they are too involved to stop what they are doing and give us a chronological biography. Yet, we live and learn about the characters right up to the resolution, or when they are put away in their body bags.

Anyone who has read Westlake hasn’t just read one of his books. Generally there is a feeding frenzy started because the books are so damned readable and real. Maybe this is because the real story between the covers transcends the genres of graphic crime or comic crime capers. The real story is in how we, the readers, can relate to the protagonists and how the characters feel and think as they move towards resolution.

This where honest to God classic authors succeed. Not by just writing Horror, Fantasy,  Drama, or any genre, but by using the genres as vehicles that tell truths  relating to the real life experiences of the readers.

Once again, I’m packing that suitcase.

The opening statement of Donal Westlake’s Bio:

I THINK I’D BEST treat this as an interrogation, in which I am not certain of the intent or attitude of the interrogator

© 2010, Alex Crabtree. All rights reserved.

Years ago I started writing Flash Fiction for just the sheer enjoyment of writing, and now it has turned into a full blown addiction. I can't quit the horse, man! Another dirty little secret about me is my ability to write all kinds of web content. SEO content, articles, blog posts, manifests; you name it, I'll write it. Looking for some help? My gun hangs at r.alex.crabtree@gmail.com

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Tags: book review, donald westlake, the hook

This entry was posted on August 10, 2010 at 1:44 pm and is filed under Books. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.